Slovakia:
Commission representative advocates forceful assimilation of
Roma
The European Roma Information Office (ERIO) strongly criticised
statements made on 1 May 2004 by the head of the European Commission
delegation in Slovakia. Mr. van der Linden reportedly suggested
that taking Roma children away from their parents, and placing
them in boarding schools, would be a possible solution for the
"Roma problem". In these schools, they would be exposed
to "the system of values which is dominant in our society",
making them "fit better into the dominant society"
and "able to truly contribute to the growth of the economy
of the dominant society". Offering financial incentives
was identified as a possible way to overcome the reluctance of
Roma parents to give up their children. ERIO described the comments
as expressing the idea of eradicating "Romani identity and
culture through the brain-washing of their children and their
alienation from their parents and community".

ERIO highlights that these statements run contrary to international
human rights conventions, to principles of non-discrimination,
and to the guidelines that the EU itself has been pressing on
accession governments to "safeguard and respect the rights
of their minorities". It called on the European Commission
to give a clear sign that Mr. van der Linden's views are "not
in line with the philosophy of the institution he represents",
calling for him to be removed from his post.

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